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Abranse las pulperías

Abranse las pulperías is a Tango written by Alfredo Attadía and recorded by Ángel d’Agostino in 1952. The Tango Abranse las pulperías is written by Alfredo Attadía, Ángel d’Agostino has recorded Abranse las pulperías with the singer Tino Garcia.
“Abranse las pulperías” translates to “Open the Pulperías” in English. It’s a call to unbolt the doors of those traditional, bustling shops where life, stories, and laughter converge. The music beckons with its spirited melody, inviting listeners to embrace a bygone era where the heart of the community throbbed with vibrant, shared experiences.

Tango

Style

Ángel d'Agostino

Orchestra

Tino Garcia

Singer

Héctor Marcó

Author

Alfredo Attadía

Composer

1952/8/20

Date

Tino Garcia
Tino Garcia
Ángel d'Agostino
Ángel d’Agostino

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Lyrics Translation of the Tango Abranse las pulperías

This is the translation of the Tango “Abranse las pulperías” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “Abranse las pulperías” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango Abranse las pulperías

Abransen las pulperías
Que aquí llega el chino Palma,
Con la sentencia en el alma
Y una mancha en su facón.
Negra se ha puesto mi suerte
Como tizón del infierno,
Porque de allí mismo vengo
De cobrarme una traición.

Traigan caña, mucha caña
Que ésta emborracha y no engaña,
Ella en cambio me mentía
Y en mis labios se dormía
Envenenándome el alma.
Traigan caña que ya vienen
Los milicos del cantón,
Y si llegan a prenderme
A la muerte he de venderle
Bien borracho el corazón.

Abransen las pulperías
Que una cruz clava en mi pecho,
Donde hoy moran los caranchos
Y hasta el diablo ha de vivir.
Dos ojos negros, traidores
Al chino Palma lo hirieron,
Y en su puñal se durmieron
Nunca más han de mentir.

English lyrics of the Tango "Abranse las pulperías"

Clear out the taverns
For here comes Chino Palma,
With a verdict in his soul
And a stain on his blade.
My luck has turned as black
As a hellfire’s char,
For it’s from there I come
To avenge a betrayal.

Bring cane, a lot of cane
For it intoxicates and doesn’t deceive,
She, however, lied to me
And fell asleep on my lips
Poisoning my soul.
Bring the cane for the soldiers
Of the canton are coming,
And if they come to arrest me
I shall sell my heart to death
Profoundly drunk.

Clear out the taverns
For a cross is nailed in my chest,
Where today the vultures dwell
And even the devil must live.
Two black, treacherous eyes
Wounded Chino Palma,
And in his dagger, they fell asleep
Never to lie again.

Abranse las pulperías by Héctor Marcó

Abranse las pulperías is a Tango written by Héctor Marcó and composed by Alfredo Attadía.



Story behind the Tango Abranse las pulperías

Abranse las pulperías tells a dark and gripping tale of betrayal, vengeance, and the harsh realities faced by an individual known as “el chino Palma”. It revolves around his emotional turmoil after being betrayed and his subsequent quest for retribution, which leads him to a path from which he might not return. The anguish and burden of this betrayal are expressed through his demand for strong liquor to soothe his tormented soul before facing potential incarceration or even death. The lyrics poignantly narrate his final moments at the pulperías, local drinking spots, as he prepares for the inevitable confrontation with law enforcement officers.



Symbolism of Abranse las pulperías

The potent imagery of darkness, a stained dagger, and a soul marked by betrayal in Abranse las pulperías symbolically reflect the internal and external struggles of “el chino Palma”. The “sentencia en el alma” (sentence in the soul) emphasizes the irreversibility of his emotional state, conveying a deep-set sense of doom. The repeated plea, “Traigan caña, mucha caña”, illustrates his attempt to drown his sorrows and pain in alcohol, which is symbolic of his desire to escape or momentarily suspend his troubled existence. At the same time, “una cruz clava en mi pecho” (a cross nailed in my chest) and references to the devil establish a religious or fatalistic dimension, suggesting that Palma feels crucified by his fate.



Abranse las pulperías in historic Context

The tango was recorded in Argentina, a country where Tango music often explores themes of love, betrayal, and death. By 1952, Tango music was deeply imbedded in Argentine culture but was also evolving, reflecting societal changes post-World War II. The imagery of military or “milicos” and rural locales like “cantón” in the lyrics indicate a setting deeply connected to the Argentine countryside or the outskirts, where laws and personal grudges often intertwined. The mention of these elements gives the song an authentic rural Argentine feel, a reflection of the tumultuous life in isolated communities.



Héctor Marcó

Héctor Marcó was a notable tango lyricist whose work often painted vivid pictures of life’s struggles and emotional depths.